Australia’s ‘triple threat’ standing in way of India’s comeback in Brisbane

India will return to the fortress they conquered almost four years back as they take the field against Australia for the third Test at the Gabba, Brisbane from December 14. Despite losing the second Test, India will carry some good memories into Brisbane having scripted history in their previous outing at the venue in 2021.

Marred by injuries and the unavailability of several senior players, a depleted Indian side managed to conquer the Gabba fortress, handing Australia their first loss at the historic venue after 32 years, and registered their second consecutive series win in Australia. However, emulating the 2021 glory could well turn out to be herculean task for Rohit Sharma’s men in the upcoming fixture as they face a ‘triple threat’ from the Australian batters.

The differentiating factor between the two teams in the second Test in Adelaide, was India’s new nemesis Travis Head. The southpaw plundered 140 soul-crushing runs on the Indian bowlers, mercilessly thrashing them to all parts of the ground. Head’s innings was the decisive factor for Australia, which allowed them to take a massive 157-run lead in the first innings and inflict a 10-wicket loss on the visitors.

India desperate to find Travis Head’s Kryptonite

Brisbane is already giving ominous signs to the Indian bowlers as their ‘chief-tormentor’ has a stellar record at the venue. It was at this very place where Head was re-born as a Test batter during the first Test of the Ashes 2021-22, as his blistering 152 played a pivotal role in Australia’s dominating nine-wicket win.

Since then, there has been no looking back for the Australia star as he has scored 2260 runs from 32 matches (53 innings) at an average of 45.20 and a strike rate of 79.68 with six hundreds and ten fifties to his name. At the Gabba, Head has accumulated 352 runs from five matches (seven innings) at an average of 50.28 with one hundred and two fifties.

Hence, India could well be out on the field for a long time once again in Brisbane, if they don’t manage to find Head’s Kryptonite ahead of the third Test. The second threat for India will be the oldest thorn in their flesh from the current Australian squad, Steven Smith. Smith has looked far from his best against his favourite opposition so far, having scored just 19 runs from three innings in the first two Tests.

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However, irrespective of his recent failures, one cannot overlook his staggering Test average of 60.61 against India, along with 2061 runs from 21 matches (40 innings). At the Gabba, Smith has scored 821 runs from ten matches (17 innings) at an average of 54.73 with three hundreds and as many fifties to his name. His first hundred at the venue also came against India during the 2014-15 series between the two teams, when he announced himself as the modern-day Test great by scoring 769 runs in four Tests.

Hence, after failures in the first two Tests, Smith will be even hungrier to feast on his favourite prey as he prepares to unleash his beast mode once again. Meanwhile, the third threat from Australia will be Marnus Labuschagne, who finally looked to be in form after a 64-run knock in Adelaide.

Onus on Bumrah to tame Marnus Labuschagne

Having been undone by Jasprit Bumrah in the first Test, Labuschagne had a lot riding on his shoulders as he walked out to bat in the second Test with several experts questioning his place in the team. The right-handed batter answered his critics in style with his gritty knock as he conquered his demons against Bumrah.

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Heading into Gabba, Labuschagne will feel at ease, averaging a mammoth 62.12 at the venue with 497 runs from six matches (10 innings) with two hundreds and as many fifties to his name. Hence, Labuschagne could further pile on the misery for the visitors along with Smith and Head.

India will have to work out their plans to stop the formidable trio at the Gabba as they look to make a comeback in the series. The onus would be on Jasprit Bumrah to weave his magic with the ‘red cherry’. However, the pace spearhead will also require good support from his teammates as India look to conquer the Gabba fortress all over again.

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